Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 2 p.m. at McDonald Funeral Home Chapel for John Patton “Pat” Evans, 69, of Picayune.

Burial will be in Old Palestine Cemetery under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home.

The Rev. Wayne Rice will officiate at the service.

Our beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather, John Patton “Pat” Evans, passed away Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at the Biloxi VA Hospital. He was a local community leader and retired Baptist Minister.

A native of Gulfport, he graduated from Sewanee Military Academy in Sewanee, Tenn. in 1959. After graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Army serving from 1960 to 1969. He served in the Army Security Agency serving overseas duty in Panama and Germany. After being honorably discharged, he attended Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo. and graduated with the Graduate degree in theology in 1974. While in college, he was ordained as a minister and pastored Bethel Bible Baptist Church in Strafford, Mo.  After prior disabilities forced him to retire from the ministry, he relocated to Picayune after marrying his beloved Gail. He served as Commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 47 for many years, spearheading many of their programs, including the annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive. He also served as Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 2 for two years. He was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents, Milton T. Evans and Nellie Weisenburgh Evans.

Survivors include: his wife of 30 years, Gail Patch Evans of Picayune; his son, John “Jae” Evans of Picayune; two daughters, Terri Lepley and husband Fred of Fort Myers, Fla., and Dawn Hoskins and husband Chris of Ridgecrest, Calif.; four grandchildren; and his brother, Melvin Evans and wife Debbie of Gulfport, Miss.

Visitation will be Friday, October 29, 2010 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at McDonald Funeral Home.

Obituary, register book and driving directions can be found on the internet page, www.mcdonaldfh.com.